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So this one is a bit more complicated.
I'd hurt my back a couple of weeks ago but hobbled about for a couple of weeks but at the weekend it was unbearable, with shooting pain down my leg, including a couple of times when my leg gave way. That was the clincher, work was impossible. I took a couple of days off to rest and stretch but no gym, no running etc but I was getting worse. I went for a walk (from mine to my mums) and it felt better albeit I couldn't get it to crack, which usually brought instant relief. I decided to resume work and see how that goes. Time will tell if this is a mistake.
The forecast was superb, the forcan ridge had been on the radar for a while but no one was able to join me. Hey ho.
An early start saw me on my way just before 0830, using the end point as the start point and cutting across the grass to the path.
The path up was ok and not ot difficult, albeit I had a sweat on!
There was sounds of stags bellowing all around and just before the ridge I got quite close to one and there were sounds of clattering antlers.
The first views of the actual ridge were not too bad and I was encouraged (I should add that heights/exposure make me dizzy).
There is a stone wall that starts where I went up to the ridge, if you must avoid the ridge you can follow this wall over to the bealach and head up from there. However, I went up and the going was easy, I didn't even have to put the poles away, there were good obvious holds and crampon marks signaling the way.
The summit of the ridge was reached without any real hassle except where I was trying to bridge over a rock and my back twinged and my leg buckled leaving me seated saddle style on top of a rock at a wee airy bit. Doh. I recovered and carried on. The top of the ridge was reached sticking to the crest of the ridge albeit there was a bypass path to the right, which looked a wee bit airy to me. The holds were so good and obvious on the crest it was a no brainer for me.
The summit of the saddle was clear from there.
There was one (well known) obstacle in the way.
I know there is an easy bypass to the left but I fancied this myself and I didn't have to worry about holding anyone up as I had the hill myself.The start looks daunting but each move is ok, I aimed for the big pointy rock in the middle.
From the big pointy rock I went to the left and changed operation "dreep down" as it was going to lead to a world of pain and downclimbed properly, which was ok, if very cold on the hands.
I should add my poles got launched from the top. The picture (without scale) from the bottom looks tame/easy.
I then went up to the twin summit of the saddle, I believe the first summit with the cairn is the highest one. Anyway the easier seat was near the trig point, which is where most of my pics were taken.
I had a quick look around then headed down to the lochan down at the bealach and had some grub.
The pull up to Sgurr na sgine was was uneventful following the line of the fence posts.
The summit was scenic with the Brothers, Sisters and South ridges all very prominent.
I then progressed down via Faochag which was very scenic if steep and sore on the legs/feet.
The result was a magic day, with a magic scramble and views.
I was treated to some amazing views of the grey corries, nevis range but glencoe eclipsed all of them.
I gave a hitch hiker/walker a lift from glencoe to the devils stair case. It turns out he'd started just before 0900hrs that day and done Buachaille etive mor, Buachaille etive beag, Stob coire Sgeamhach and Bidean nam bian! He bailed on adding the aonach eagach because he was feeling a bit tired! Trumped! haha
